3 Hit the Road Jack

by Christin Lovell

  Craig placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. It felt like the weight of the world as Lexi continued to lay limp in my arms with my wrist healing itself already.

  “She can’t leave me,” I bit out. My chest was tight, the air fighting inhalation. Serum oozed from my gums becoming a waterfall over my teeth.

  “You can’t leave me. It’s supposed to be you and me; peace and all that crap. It’s not your time. Wake up!”

  Chapter 19

  I gasped for air, between a mouth full of blood; my body spent and oxygen deprived. It felt like my chest had collapsed inwards on me; the pain wasn’t unbearable though. The blood disappeared as I was pulled tightly against a chest; Kellan’s chest.

  “Holy cow poo; I can’t believe it worked,” Craig exclaimed.

  I was drawn to the bellowing cries behind him though. I blinked a few times to refocus my vision, my attention immediately went to Gabi, who was a crumpled, disheveled mess on the floor hugging Rafi’s lifeless body to her. Disappointment slammed through me. I failed. I didn’t save him.

  Tears welled at the sight of my friend and her loss. I’d failed her; I’d let them all down. I was the only reason they were here, that they were in this place. I couldn’t hold back the shame and despair. I felt the tears chasing each other down my cheeks, soaking Kellan’s shirt.

  “I’m so sorry Gabi. I’m… so sorry,” I choked out.

  I fell into Kellan’s arms as my world collapsed around me. Everyone faces tragedy at some point in life, but it felt like death was chasing me as life beat me down.

  Rafi had fought hard to protect me and I’d let him down. It wasn’t like my parents when I wasn’t there and didn’t have a chance. I had the opportunity; I saw the open window to block the move and miscalculated, which was such a human error. The guilt was suffocating me; my stomach threatened to regurgitate the blood settling in it.

  “We need to move. Who knows what was heard through the walls,” Kalel said, pulling me back down to reality and away from my internal self-abuse.

  “I’ll have the army clean this one up. There should be a few on location who can move quickly,” Al stated.

  I lifted my head, finally taking in the room. Everything was broken and in disarray, decapitated bodies and random limbs tossed about. It looked like what it was: a blood bath. Regardless of how many battles I fought, regardless of how many vamps I killed, death would never be a welcome friend. I hated the violence; I hated the idea that I took this person from someone else, the same way my family and friends had been taken from me. I would never purposefully subject someone to that sort of suffering. It was a permanent torture we all experienced at some point, but I didn’t want to be the cause of it.

  Al made the phone call while Kalel grabbed his items; I noticed he avoided looking at Gabi or Rafi. Kai went to Gabi, extricated Rafi from her grip and pulled her into his arms. She hugged him tightly, sobbing into his shoulder. He didn’t try to rush her or push her away. He stood embracing her, being the strong man and brother she needed in that moment. For the first time I saw that he genuinely did care about her.

  Since I’d begun my journey nearly five months ago, so much had happened. I was slowly realizing that life, regardless of the amount of time you’re granted, flew by in a flash. In one blink of an eye everything could be, would be gone. And now, Rafi was gone because of me. It happened so fast; I should have been better prepared. I should have done more knowing this was what we would be facing.

  “Don’t beat yourself up babe,” Kellan whispered into my ear, still hugging me to him, gently pulling my hair away from my wet cheeks.

  “I can’t help it.”

  “You couldn’t stop what happened. We were ambushed. We all should have been more prepared.”

  “Doesn’t change what happened or the guilt I have over it.” I struggled to hold back the sobs. I had no right to be crying. Out of all of us Gabi had lost the most… this time around.

  “Let’s go,” Kalel said, reminding us of what was yet to come, of what we still had to face beyond this room. I knew we had to fight harder, in Rafi’s honor.

  We walked out of the room to find Will standing there ready with his luggage in tow. “To Cardiff, Wales we go,” he stated as if nothing had happened.

  We all looked at him, irritation and something along the line of disgust on our faces in response to his chipper tone.

  “Really? We just got done busting our asses in there while you stared out a window randomly checking your watch for the right time to come back and greet us as if nothing even happened, as if Rafi didn’t just die in there?! What the sugarplums is wrong with you?! You’re supposed to be there to help us, not do whatever the heck you think you’re doing!” Kellan wrapped me tightly into his chest, whispering calming words in my ear. I couldn’t stop the tears from falling again; I couldn’t stop the anger from boiling over. I couldn’t control any part of me. I guess they were right; humans really are ruled by their emotions and I was acting very human at the moment.

  Everyone stood in silence, no one jumping into the ring of fire.

  “Do you feel better?” Will asked. “I know you’re angry Lexi, but I’m not the enemy; I’m not the one who did this to you. But the bloody bastard who did is still out there. You can choose to waste all that emotion on me or save it for the one who deserves it.”

  I closed my eyes, trying to reign myself in. He was right. It wasn’t his fault. I was upset that he wouldn’t tell me what was coming; that he didn’t tell me exactly who to protect to save him, but he wasn’t the one who actually killed Rafi. And he wasn’t the one who miscalculated; I was.

  “Sorry Will. This is just really hard.”

  “I get it. I’ve read it. I know what you’ve been through Lexi and what you’re going to go through. You have to be strong to do that. I know you have that strength inside or you wouldn’t be where you are right now.” I nodded, not bothering to analyze his words.

  “Everyone stay in pairs. Let’s pack and get out of here as quickly as possible,” Al stated.

  “I’ll stay with Will and book our tickets,” Kalel said.

  “Thanks,” Al replied, heading off with Craig. Kai held tightly to Gabi still as they entered her room.

  The second we were in the room, Kellan threw me against the wall and covered my lips with his, immediately opening his mind to me.

  “Oh God. Did I really…?” I couldn’t even think the word; just the image alone was too much. I pulled away, closing my eyes, trying to rid my memory of what I’d seen; what he’d been through.

  “Shh. It’s ok babe. You’re ok now. That’s all that matters.” He softly trailed kisses from my forehead down to my neck and shoulder.

  “You should feed before we leave. It looks like you lost a lot of blood.” I looked down at my ruined clothes, soaked with layers of blood; my nose wouldn’t let me decipher whose it was.

  “I will at the airport.”

  “I’m really sorry babe. I never meant for you to have to go through all this.” I looked up into his bright green eyes gazing down at me in the most forgiving manner, as if I hadn’t robbed him of a normal life in any way.

  “We’re in this together. You and me forever.” He brought my left hand up to his lips and kissed my ring.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you.” He kissed me again, this time slower with more sensuality behind it. Nothing was rushed; the urgency had expired.

  His right hand moved to cradle the back of my neck and head. I leaned into his embrace, deepening the contact, opening myself up to him. I knew without a doubt in this moment that I was finally ready to give him all of me. I would never regret giving him more. I would never regret my time with Kellan, no matter how short or long that time may truly be.

  We finally broke away from each other, broke away from the comforting cocoon of each other’s arms.

  “We should change and get out of here,” Kellan said, pushing more hair away from my face that had fallen from my ponytai
l. I nodded, but didn’t move. He gave me one last quick kiss before moving towards the bathroom. A few seconds later I heard the shower running. He came out, a smile on his face as he looked directly at me. “It’s all yours babe.” God he really was perfect.

  I threw on a pair of jeans, slightly upset about more ruined clothes. I found a tank top and layered Kellan’s grey sweater over it; I tucked the front of his sweater into my jeans so it didn’t hang quite so low, as it was the collar hung off to the side exposing a bit of my shoulder. I layered a chocolate brown scarf on top covering most of my skin peeking through. Kellan dressed similarly in dark jeans, a black sweater and grey knit scarf.

  Apparently we all had the same idea since we all came out showered and changed with our luggage in tow. Despite Gabi’s fresh appearance, the bags under her eyes, the lack of depth in her far away gaze told the truth. I walked right up and pulled her into my arms as we left a part of ourselves behind.

  “I can’t believe he’s gone,” she choked, the tears welling all over again.

  “I know,” I softly replied, gently laying her head on my shoulder.

  Chapter 20

  Cardiff seemed like a world away despite being the equivalent of one state over in Wales; perhaps that was because every minute that ticked by felt like a minute less to stop the bomb from exploding.

  “Where to now?” I asked as we retrieved our luggage.

  “Novotel Cardiff Centre. I already alerted your Aunt Claire as well,” Will replied. I’d completely forgotten about her traveling to London. I was really slipping.

  “What’s our plan, considering we came here on a blind whim promoted by your words alone?” I looked at him expectantly.

  “Spoilers Lexi,” he smiled wide.

  “Spoilers?”

  “Yes, spoilers. You’re asking for spoilers that I can’t reveal. You are just going to have to trust me when I say that we’re in the right place for the moment.” He buried his nose in his notebook barely able to juggle it, his luggage and massive briefcase.

  “Let’s just get to the hotel and set up camp there. We’ll figure out the rest later,” Kalel said. There was a ripple of anger or frustration in his tone. No one pushed for a source though; we’d been through the wringer in the last twelve hours.

  “Lexi, you and Gabi should rest. I’m not sure when you’ll be given the opportunity to again,” Al advised. I nodded in agreement.

  I glanced at Gabi and saw her head down; I knew her eyes were bloodied up with tears beneath her dark sunglasses. They were her shield against the world at the moment. I looked down at my hand entwined with Kellan’s. I couldn’t imagine losing him; I didn’t want to imagine life without him, and I still felt horrible that she had to know that sort of loss. I could only imagine the tortured state of her heart.

  Kellan squeezed my hand. His eyes penetrated mine as I lifted my head. He knew where my mind was wandering. I leaned against him as we walked out of Cardiff Wales Airport. A vehicle was waiting for us by the time we got to the curb, sign displaying ‘Kalel Kulani.’ We loaded up and headed for the hotel.

  Upon arrival I found we were indeed in the city center. The guys checked us in again. I was beginning to feel a little helpless. I would definitely be texting John later to see if he found anything.

  “Here are your keys.” Kalel passed the room keys to everyone.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to pay for something? This is supposed to be my mission and you’ve all been taking care of everything.”

  He stopped and looked at me for the first time in what felt like a while. He didn’t just glance at me impassively or study me for the sake of decision, he actually looked me. He smiled appreciatively at me. It was the first time he’d relaxed since our dinner out in Spain, which seemed like ages ago.

  “Thanks Leka, but we made this our mission with you. Plus, we need as many tax write offs as possible.”

  “Let me know if you do need anything.” He nodded.

  Kai came up beside Kalel, his eyes raking over me. Kellan tensed beside me, but didn’t say anything. Kai still had an effect on me. It wasn’t as overwhelming and obvious as Kellan, but I felt the slow stir beneath my surface when he was near.

  “Go rest,” he finally bit out, abruptly turning and walking away.

  My focus traveled to Gabi who was at least holding her head up. “Want to rest in my room with me Gab?”

  “No, thanks. If I’m honest I plan to act more human in the next hour than I have in the last one hundred years and ball my eyes out, and I’d like to do that alone so that I can at least pretend that I still have some semblance of control over my emotions in public.”

  “We’re not here to judge you. We’re your friends; your family. We’re here to help you however we can.”

  Her brows furrowed beneath the rim of the glasses. “Craig can come with me. Ironically he’s probably the least likely to piss me off or irritate me.”

  “Don’t worry love. I promise to zip my flapper and keep it squiddled away as long as you want it to be.” Craig came up behind Gabi and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

  “Thanks Craig,” I said, grateful that he was willing to step in. He winked at me as he led Gabi to the elevator.

  “Lexi, go rest. Kalel and I will plug into the city’s network and monitor things. I’ll let you know the moment we find something.” Al looked at Kellan, reiterating his words silently.

  “I’ll stay with her in case of anything,” Kellan offered.

  “Yes, yes. Go, go,” Will shooed us towards the elevators, a strange enthusiastic look on his face. He looked as if he was a proud parent whose child was on the verge of winning a Golden Globe. I couldn’t help but smirk; it was just so out of character for him.

  Kellan escorted me to our room. We set our luggage to the side; I was almost afraid to even open it in case we had to get out quick. He clung to my hand and led me to the bed; he pulled me on top of him, securing his arms around me as if he was afraid I’d run away. I leaned down and captured his lips, our minds instantly connecting.

  He did a sensual dance through my mind as his hands cradled me in various areas. There was no urgency to his moves. Languid motions up and down my sides, my back, my neck and face; he caressed me with such tenderness.

  My fingers slid through the hair at the nape of his neck. My hands traveled over his shoulders and chest as heat slowly began to build between us.

  He flipped us so he hovered over me. We were limb to limb between a layer of clothing that suddenly felt too thick and constricting. I couldn’t hide that I’d been thinking about giving him my virginity; the same way he couldn’t hide the fact that he’d been waiting for this moment for a while. I knew this was the time. I wasn’t afraid. It felt right; he’d always felt right for me, to me.

  “I promise to be gentle. I would never intentionally hurt you.”

  “I know.”

  I knew he would make it perfect. I knew he would take his time with me. I knew I had nothing to worry about.

  “I’m ready.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “As sure as I am that I love you.”

  He pulled back, breaking our mental connection, but reconnected us in gaze. I stared up into his beautiful emerald eyes, eyes that I’d never tire of seeing every day for the rest of my life. There were so many cuts and facets to the gorgeous irises that seemed so bright yet dark at the same time; as intricate as the person they belonged to.

  “I love you Lexi.”

  He kissed a trail along my jaw and neck, his hands reaching beneath his sweater I was wearing. He slid down to kiss along the length of my stomach as he slowly removed my outer layers of clothing. I slid my hands under his shirt, feeling the strength of his muscles beneath; his skin warm to my vamp touch. Skin to skin, heart to heart; I surrendered myself to him, to our love.

  ~ ~ ~

  We lay breathing heavily on the bed, side by side, gazing up at the ceiling.

  “I always knew it was going to
be good with you, but damn.”

  “I always expected my first time to be awkward or at the least painful at first, but, um, wow. That was…” I turned to look at him. “That was amazing Kellan; you were amazing. Thank you.”

  He stared at me, his eyes still reflecting the pure pleasure we’d experienced. He brushed a piece of hair away from my face. “No, thank you.” He kissed me softly. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.

  I sat up and looked around. “Holy -!” The hotel room was completely destroyed. The back of the chair at the computer desk was snapped in half. Another chair by the window was completely shredded, the fabric and stuffing tossed about. The Bible that was in the now smashed nightstand lay in the middle of the floor, surprisingly the only thing unscathed in the center of the room. The TV lay face down on the floor, a corner of the dresser missing; the mirror over the dresser cracked. I swallowed a hard lump in my throat as I looked down at the bed we both lay in. The sheets were missing and the comforter was barely hanging onto the ripped mattress. The mattress was no longer secured in place on top of the bed frame; rather, it was now lying on the floor on top of the broken frame! “My God. Did we really get that crazy? I can’t remember anything but feeling so incredibly good that I couldn’t focus on anything else but the pleasure.”

  Kellan chuckled lightly. “We were all over. You had a strong dominant streak I had to conquer.”

  “Um… How are we going to explain this to the hotel management?”

  “With a black credit card?”

  “Kellan, I’m being serious.”

  “So am I. I have one in my wallet. Don’t worry about it babe. Seriously. Now come here,” he said, arms open and waiting for me. It didn’t take much convincing. I snuggled into him and quickly fell asleep feeling closer than ever to him.